Module summary

In response to a growing professionalisation of the translation industry, this module offers students the opportunity to familiarise themselves with aspects of managing the translation process from the perspective of various agents in the translation workflow. It covers aspects such as types of work in the translation industry and skills and abilities required to perform them, opportunities and challenges when entering the translation market, and professional responsibility and ethical standards in various roles in the translation industry.
By providing an employability component within the translation course, this module complements linguistic and cultural knowledge of translation students develop in other modules and prepares them to become reflective and responsible professionals in the translation industry.

Syllabus

The module will be delivered in three blocks:
1. Types of work in translation industry, typical work scenarios, types of translation projects, translation process cycle, roles in translation process: skills and prerequisites. LO1
2. Entering the translation industry: work placement, career development, work providers, finding and working with clients. LO1
3. Professional ethics and responsibility: potential issues in the translator’s work. LO2

Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity

The content of the module will be delivered through a combination of innovative learning and teaching techniques underpinned by a learner-centred approach, which is best suited to achieve the aim of conscious reflection on professional practices and challenges in the translation industry. Students will have an opportunity to develop their team work skills through group projects, and their reflection skills through guided independent work. Blended learning will be realised by providing guidance for independent study on Weblearn, and through Weblearn-based group projects. Students will have ample opportunities for self-reflection and peer feedback. They will produce a portfolio of 3 documents focussing on the three aspects covered in the module.

Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
1. compare and contrast various types of translation work as well as roles and procedures in the translation workflow cycle, evaluating their own professional and transferable skills and identifying appropriate ways of developing these skills through continuing professional development (CPD) with a view to gaining employment in the translation industry (including writing and evaluating their CV and cover letter for the forthcoming work placement);
2. identify and analyse problems of ethical nature in the translation profession with a view to making informed and responsible decisions in accordance with professional standards and industry norms;

Assessment strategy

Since the underlying principle of the module is to develop students’ reflective skills with regard to various aspects of professional work in the translation industry, the assessment strategy is based on a combination of peer and tutor feedback. The overall assessment structure ensures a balanced assessment load, to be achieved through providing formative feedback at regular intervals throughout the module.